MPA Welcomes Development Director, Board Members
McLean Project for the Arts welcomes Krista Vita as its new Development Director. Vita has worked in non-profit development for more than 10 years. She is a member of the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington and manages a volunteer writing workshop for high school seniors. MPA also elected four new board members: Debbie Jardot, a longtime McLean resident, formerly MPA development director and manager for government relations for the Walt Disney Company; Derrick Swaak, supervising broker for the McLean office of TTR Sotheby’s and is involved in McLean community affairs; George D. Swygert, Jr., currently a regional executive in local distribution for Capital One Bank and also serves on the board of the Phillips Collection; and, Brittany Yam, formerly director at Project 4 Gallery and administrative coordinator for Arlington Arts Center.
Obituary
Nathan F. Holeman
Nathan F. (Red) Holeman died on Dec. 24, 2013. He was born July 16, 1925 to George and Hazel Holeman in Tuxedo Junction on the outskirts of Bartlesville, OK.
Music Loft Distributes Donated Instruments For Students
Teachers collect instruments at Music Loft.
On Friday, Jan. 17, school music teachers collected instruments at the Music Loft in Herndon. These musical instruments had been collected by the Council for the Arts of Herndon Play it Forward instrument drive. “We start the Play it Forward Campaign again in April,” said Laura Readyoff, who is on the board of directors for the council and the co-owner of the Music Loft.
Going Dark?
Funding needed for Great Falls July 4 fireworks.
“Last Friday’s meeting didn’t result as we had hoped it would,” said Sharon Rainey, president of Neighbors Foundation. The Great Falls based Rotary Foundation notified Neighbors Foundation that they would not be taking over the annual 2014 July 4th Fireworks event.
Richmond Diary
Governor McAuliffe Sets the Stage
Each year the Governor of Virginia addresses a joint assembly of the House of Delegates and the State Senate in a speech not unlike the President’s State of the Union address except that the Governor provides a “State of the Commonwealth” as well as his recommendations for legislative action. Last week I heard the 35th such speech since I have been a member of the House of Delegates. I think Gov. Terry McAuliffe made the best of any of the speeches I have heard over my career in the legislature.
Churchill Road Team Excels at Langley Invitational
The Churchill Road Science Olympiad Team participated at the Langley Invitational on Dec. 15. Under the direction of mentors Jennifer Ezzell (5th grade teacher) and Rajee Ramesh (parent), the Churchill Road team was the top-ranking elementary school team, placing fourth overall among the 21 middle and elementary teams. The sixth graders Ian Palk and Christopher Sole placed first in the Solar System category. The team members are looking forward to the Regionals later this spring.
Young Speaks about Civil Rights, King’s Legacy
“A Continuing Legacy” speaking series came to McLean Community Center’s theater.
HALFWAY THROUGH, the former U.N. ambassador opened the event up to questions from audience members. Chuck Smith of Reston asked how he thought President Obama could deal with vast income inequality within the U.S. due to a majority of the income being owned by the super rich. Young responded that it was difficult for any leader, himself included, to deal with 1 percent controlling all of the country’s money, but that the president could still work to enable the poor with economic opportunity. He cited his own history of using international investment to fight poverty, and said that the same approach could be applied to African countries with slow economies and high poverty.
‘This’ Opens in Vienna
Vienna Theatre Company presents comedy-drama exploring challenges of a certain-age.
On Jan. 24, the Vienna Theatre Company debuts “This,” a drama with a humorous take on the tribulations of life at about 40 years old … give or take a year or two in either direction.
‘Helping Hungry Kids’
Saturday food drives at Herndon and Reston grocery stores provide weekends meals for area students.
Every Saturday leading up to Feb. 17, customers walking into the Fox Mill and North Point shopping center Giant grocery stores will be able to provide food for hungry elementary school children in Herndon and Reston. The Helping Hungry Kids program kicked off its Stuff the Bus food collection program Jan. 18, at area grocery stores, complete with shopping carts and a stack of food ready to be purchased for generous customers. Volunteers at the front of the store handed out flyers to customers and asked them to help by purchasing $11 bags filled with child-sized portions of items like macaroni and cheese, granola bars and sugar-free applesauce. “A lot of the people who come here just take the bag and prepare it themselves,” said Colleen Cavitz, a Chantilly resident who has been volunteering each month for three years.
Broadway Night Comes to South Lakes High School
South Lakes students prepare for musical show.
This past weekend students in the South Lakes High School were rehearsing and preparing for the ninth annual Broadway Night show at 7 p.m. Jan. 24-25 (weather depending) at the school’s Little Theatre. Cast and crew were at the school making sure everything was ready for opening night. “This is my first year doing costume design, but my third year doing production for the play,” said South Lakes senior Allison Scheler.
Vandal Damages Windows of Council Chamber Building
Police arrived at the Herndon Town Council Chamber building Friday night, Jan. 17, to find that several large windows around the outside of the building had been smashed. Witnesses reported seeing a tall black male throw an object at the Council Chamber building in downtown Herndon at 10:45 p.m. before taking off running toward Grace Street.
Preserve School Quality
To the Editor: Our teachers are bringing home less money in their paychecks today than they did in 2010. Seventy percent of teachers at McLean High School need to have second jobs to make ends meet. We’ve cut our county school support staff to student ratio levels to 50 percent lower than any other school district in the metro area. Fairfax County gets $1,855 per pupil from state aid while other school districts in the state get on average $3,420 per pupil due to an antiquated state allocation calculation. And, we continue to look for ways to cut costs in the school operating budget.
Cornerstones and GRCC Reveal Best of Reston Honorees
Reston’s business and nonprofit leaders were among those gathered for 23rd Annual Best of Reston Kickoff Reception.
In a colorful, well-lit lit room of the Google Reston Town Center office, a shining bronze statue of 99-year-old Reston founder Bob Simon sat about 10 feet away from the man himself.
Police Identify Body Found in Creek off of Locust Street
A resident reported finding the body of an adult male in downtown Herndon.
Herndon Police determined late Friday, Jan. 17, that a body found in a creek bed at the intersection of Locust and Center streets in downtown Herndon was that of 30-year-old Damien Patrick Scanlan.
Certificates of Congratulations Given at Council Session
Pride of Herndon Marching Band and John Mosesso recognized.
“We have several presentations this evening and we are very excited about all of them because this is the stuff that makes living in Herndon the great place that it is,” said Mayor Lisa Merkel. Merkel was speaking at the Jan. 14 Herndon Town Council Public Session, and she invited town councilmember Melissa Jonas to read the official Certificate of Congratulations for the Herndon High School's “Pride of Herndon” Marching Band.
Vienna Mayor to Retire in 2014
After 14 years at the helm, M. Jane Seeman will not seek re-election.
IT WAS 1996 when M. Jane Seeman stepped in to fill her husband’s unexpired term on the council after his death. She ran and won seats on the council in 1997 and 1999. When then-mayor Charles Robinson approached Seeman about running for mayor in 2000, she had some trepidation. “I was thinking I wasn’t capable at all,” Seeman said. “I felt as if I swallowed a rock. “If you really believe in something, you have to step forward and do it. I believe in Vienna and that’s what this was all about.” Seeman was diagnosed with lung cancer in spring, 2013, but her decision to turn the reins of the town over came a year before her diagnosis. Other than the cancer, she called herself a “healthy” person. Throughout Seeman’s administration and in the years before, the town’s emphasis was on maintaining Vienna’s way of life, a small-town feel with a family focus, Seeman said. “It’s paid off. We have all these young families moving to Vienna, raising their kids here.”
Donation Supports Box Turtles
Great Falls BSA Venturing Crew 364 presented a $250 check to the Fairfax County Park Authority on Dec. 11, providing a lifetime sponsorship of eastern box turtles at Riverbend Park. These turtles are used to educate children at the park and local Fairfax schools about wildlife and conservation. Their population in the wild has been declining in Northern Virginia. Presenting the check to Riverbend Park Naturalist Julie Gurnee is Natalie Gilbert, president of Venturing Crew 364. Joining in the presentation are: Camille Speer, the Crew's past president and adult advisors, Bill Canis and Gary Pan. Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America and provides opportunities for young men and women to participate in high adventure activities, serve their communities and become responsible and caring adults.
Outstanding Service
At the Reston Lions Club Holiday party held on Dec. 19, at the Hidden Creek Country Club, five members of the club were presented Melvin Jones Fellow plaques for dedicated humanitarian services. The awards were by the Lions Clubs International Foundation. The recipients with Club President Don Leas, are, from left, Gerry Washburn, Bob Meissner, Leas, Jim Ryan, Mike Moseley and Jack Gazlay. Melvin Jones was one of the founders in 1917 of Lions Clubs International which now has 1.35 million members in 206 countries. The Reston Lions Club supports sight and hearing programs and more in the Reston and Herndon areas
Vienna, Oakton Home Sales: December, 2013
In December 2013, 82 homes sold between $2,775,000-$204,000 in the Vienna and Oakton area.
Vienna, Oakton Home Sales: December, 2013
Springfield Home Sales: December, 2013
In December 2013, 121 Springfield homes sold between $910,000-$130,000.
Springfield Home Sales: December, 2013